Simply Divine. Hike the Linville Falls Plunge Basin Trail to stunning waterfall views, trekking to the base of the falls on the floor of Linville Gorge. Hike our top 10 favorite trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, climbing to some seriously stunning mountaintop views. It passes a blue dot trail on the left, which you should ignore. Winding, twisting, curving and carving through the landscape, the Blue Ridge Parkway travels some of Western NC's most scenic terrain. Get your fill of beautiful mountain vistas, from sunrise to sunset, with these short and easy Blue Ridge Parkway hikes near Asheville. So, see our full guides for each by clicking on the listings below. Jackson County is located in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains, just 50 miles from Asheville, 111 miles from Knoxville, and 50 miles from Gatlinburg.Elevations range from 2,000 feet to more than 6,000 feet. Mountains to Sea Trail: Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook 4. Lane Pinnacle Trail 2. One of the best fall hikes near Asheville and our personal favorite, head to Black Balsam along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The visitor center near Asheville is a one-stop shop for all things Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile, non-stop recreational road managed by the National Park Service. The blue-blazed trail leading right meets up with the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Tanbark Ridge tunnel about 1/2 mile down the mountain. Here are our ten favorite hiking trails that are easy to find and less than four miles in length. The hike was fun as we stopped to listen to Chris talk about the history of the trail and to point out the various plants, berries and animal tracks. So grab your pup and lets go on some dog friendly hikes near Asheville. Start your tour with a pickup from your Asheville hotel before heading to Blue Ridge Parkway. We'll share our top favorite Blue Ridge Parkway trails near Asheville for fall leaves, picnics, blooms, and views. In fact, the Blue Ridge Parkway travels through Asheville!. One of the most underrated road trips in all of the United States, the Blue Ridge Parkway passes some of the Southeast's most stunning landscapes and intriguing historical sites in its winding, 469-mile journey from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.Touching thousands of miles of hiking trails, passing through dozens of state parks . With breathtaking views and readily accessible ridge hiking unspooling in both directions, Watterrock is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the Plott Balsam Range. These hikes are located at various spots along a 120-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, starting from the north near Grandfather Mountain and working south. It takes about 50 mins after leaving the city which was a nice way to get accustomed to the drive and take in the beautiful views along the way. NoName Dec 29, 2021 Dec 29, 2021 After monitoring a North Carolina picnic area for several days . The Craggy Gardens are one of the best things to do in Asheville, and you can hike there. Many visitor centers and park stores have closed for the season, others close in mid-November. It's no secret that one of the reasons we moved to Asheville, North Carolina is because we fell in love with those blue and green-hued, smoke . Blue Ridge Parkway Map - Asheville Area. At other times, these BRP . ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Chuck Lofton and his "Big Adventure" team traveled more than 450 miles southeast of downtown Indianapolis for a one-of-a-kind trip to Asheville, North Carolina. This was my favorite hike of the day hands down! There over 369 miles of hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway, so one of the most daunting tasks facing hikers may be choosing which trail to explore. During the winter months of often muddy and snowy hiking trails, a great alternative is hiking (or biking) on a closed section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.While the higher elevations (like the photo above at Soco Gap) are frequently blanketed in snow and popular for cross country skiing, the lower sections approaching Asheville are often clear. Hike to view-packed summits, explore deep-carved gorges and trek to stunning waterfalls on these top hikes just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sleeps 6 • 2 BR • 2 BA. Lake Junaluska Walking Trail. The Tuckasegee River, a popular trout-fishing spot, flows 40 miles throughout Jackson County. Get a map, talk to a ranger, pick up some merchandise, learn about other area offerings, and explore parkway-themed exhibits. Located at milemarker 364.1, the Craggy Gardens area offers a picnic area, Visitor Center with restrooms, and hikes near the picnic area as well as the Craggy Pinnacle trail . The trail starts climbing above the Parkway. (You can come to the lodge site that way, and it makes a nice short outing for exercise, but I think the hike from Ox Creek Road is much more of a real "hike", as it's longer and a lot less steep.) The road crosses through Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness Areas, and the Great and Plott Balsam Mountains. Top Places to Visit on the Blue Ridge Parkway From natural wonders to an art gallery/shop, these are highlights of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. Less than 30 miles to the northeast of Asheville, reachable via Craggy Gardens along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Pinnacle's roughly 5,820-foot summit—one of the higher peaks in the Great Craggies—delivers panoramic views of the highest caliber. Sleeps 6 • 2 BR • 2 BA. 5. Numerous hiking trails lead to waterfalls and afford mountain panoramas, and . The trail gets its unique name because the summit appears to resemble a menacing face when you look up at it from the base of the mountain. A journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway offers spectacular views of Southern Appalachia's diverse beauty for 469 uninterrupted miles. Hiking includes a short loop with access to the Mountains-to-Sea trail. Reservations: VRBO Soaring. It takes about an hour to get there. As locals, if we had to pick one spot for gorgeous Asheville fall colors, I'd say head to Black Balsam or anywhere around this area of the BRP. Blue Ridge Parkway passes right through Asheville, NC, beckoning day trippers out for a fun day of driving with the windows down and hiking to stunning views. The bridge dates back to 1952 and still stands strong as America's highest suspension footbridge. READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes for NC Day Trips 2 Bedroom Cabin Rentals in Asheville. Feb 17, 2018 - What a view! Take the trail directly next to the restrooms. From the previous spot, keep driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway and go past the Craggy Gardens Visitor's Center. The Blue Ridge Parkway. The best hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Asheville. The breathtaking Asheville hiking trails are famous, especially along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. But Craggy Gardens is also a trailhead for a hike to a 70-foot hidden waterfall: Douglas Falls. This trail is rocky so wear good shoes. It also has the best fall hikes near Asheville. They are open to the public and welcome everyone to walk the 2.3-mile loop with many natural sights along the way. Reservations: VRBO Feb 16, 2018 - Find 75 mountain hikes near Asheville with detailed guides, photos and tips on best scenic hiking trails in the North Carolina Smoky & Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 407.6 | Strenuous | 3 miles (round-trip) | ~45 minutes from AVL | yes, active dogs only. Craggy Gardens is one of the top places to visit on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. Slide 1 of . If the east side of the Parkway is all about green pine forests, the west is all about grassy balds and rushing rivers. Blue-misted mountains, cascading waterfalls, rolling pasture, and gorges banked with wildflowers greet hikers of all skill levels among the more than 100 varied and intriguing trails in North Carolina and Virginia. See more ideas about blue ridge parkway, blue ridge, asheville hikes. Always check with the National Park Service (NPS) before heading out for any Asheville winter hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Departing from the Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook at MP 422, the Devils Courthouse Trail is one of the best hikes near Asheville because of its short length and absolutely breathtaking views. Here are parts of the official Blue Ridge Parkway map, with Milepost numbers every ten miles. There are also some amazing Blue Ridge Parkway hikes in the area, including the Graveyard Fields Loop, the Crabtree Falls Loop, and the Craggy Pinnacle trail. Trail maintainers on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway are warning hikers about a possible danger in a tunnel that runs under I-40 on the trail in East Asheville. Note that the Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes in this section sometimes involve waterfalls located down gorges. During the winter months, these trails are often inaccessible since sections of the Parkway often close for snow and ice. Short and sweet, the brief hike on the Linville Falls Trail grants you beautiful waterfall views, as well as a serene experience featuring an abundance of rhododendron, white . Hike our top 10 favorite trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, climbing to some seriously stunning mountaintop views. This parkway follows some of the oldest mountains in the world, the Appalachian Mountain range, known for its scenic beauty. The waterfall is 100 feet high and nearly as long, with a series of cascades, free falls, and slides as it tumbles its way down a rockface. (2.3 or 3.8 miles, easy) Our top accessible, paved hiking trail near Asheville, with a walk around a beautiful lake at the Conference and Retreat Center, surrounded by mountains and historic buildings. A section of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia parallels the Parkway. If Dupont and Pisgah are all about waterfalls, the Blue Ridge Parkway is all about spectacular views. All are free to visit, but most are a bit hidden since they are not signed or found via maps or GPS. The tree on the right side of the MST might have a small red dot along with a white circle. And while the trail spans the entire state, short segments of the trail along the Parkway are great for exercise walks, day hikes with children, or quick stress relieving strolls after work or on holidays when a full day outing doesn't fit the schedule. Linville Falls Trail. The wide, grassy meadow at the start of the summit hike may be the most dramatic locale for a family picnic on the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Known as 'America's Favorite Scenic Drive,' the BRP is free to access. You head south on the Blue Ridge Parkway and it's 26 miles from NC 191, which is the NC Arboretum exit. The hike departs from an overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway southwest of Asheville, at MP 422 ( view maps and driving directions ). And while the trail spans the entire state, short segments of the trail along the Parkway are great for exercise walks, day hikes with children, or quick stress relieving strolls after work or on holidays when a full day outing doesn't fit the schedule. The hike to the top of Sam's Knob is one of our favorite hikes, and is located at the end of a Black Balsam side road on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Milepost 420. The name comes from Looking Glass Rock which resembles a wintertime mirror, or "looking glass", of sunlight as water . A couple was treated for injuries at Mission Hospital after they were attacked by a black bear Sept. 29 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, forcing closure of trails near the popular spot, and . Or so it feels, that incredible feeling of being above it all, perched on a sunny mountain summit, surrounded by views. This was the highlight of our anniversary celebration and when I am back in Asheville, we plan on booking the longer 5-hour Blue Ridge Parkway tour. The Folk Art Center, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, and North Carolina Museum of Minerals remain open year-round. Winding 469-miles along the weathered escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Smokies to the Shenandoah, it's a road that offers up an essentially endless supply of outdoor activities and photo-worthy pull-offs. The trail then crosses the French Broad River, Interstate 26, US highways 25, 74-A, and 74 on bridges with the Blue Ridge Parkway as it skirts the Asheville area on a relatively low elevation and low relief stretch. Looking Glass Falls is one of the most symmetrical waterfalls in western North Carolina. Updated: 7:27 AM EST November 19, 2021. If you are hiking in the early or late winter, parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway may still be open. Asheville NC make for a great home base for exploring the city itself, and for venturing outdoors to do some . Distance from Downtown Asheville: 2.6 miles. Sure, you could see it all from the comfort of your car. In the Asheville area, the Blue Ridge Parkway is your base camp for hiking to 6,000-foot mountaintops, exploring refreshing waterfalls or taking a leisurely stroll through a fragrant balsam forest. Bonus points if you can point out Biltmore Estate once you're at the top. Asheville is an exciting base to plan your Blue Ridge Parkway adventures. Don't hesitate to book you will not regret it! Photo: @forrest645. Don't miss the best hikes near Asheville, NC for all levels: easy, moderate, and difficult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Blue Ridge Parkway traverses these mountains between the Great Craggies and Mount Pisgah, near Asheville Mountains to Sea Trail Post. Please read COVID-19 hiking precautions. 5. READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overviews in NC & VA. Posana Cafe, Photo via Explore Asheville Downtown Asheville Restaurants & Breweries See the . The Mountains to Sea Trail is just a 5-minute walk from your door, while the Blue Ridge Parkway is a short 5- to 10-minute drive away. Best Long Distance Hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway: 1. There is a large parking lot. From the National Park Service visitor center and the top of the Craggy Pinnacle hike, the views are virtually unmatched. 4. The elevation changes are massive around the Asheville area, dipping under 2500 feet and flying above 5000. It's one of the most famous adventure corridors in the entire Southeast. A bear that attacked a couple and jumped on their car is still evading park rangers as trails reopen along the Blue Ridge Parkway. For those who may not know, the Parkway is a 469-mile scenic route stretching from Waynesboro Virginia to Cherokee, NC. Asheville NC, a city literally in the middle of the mountains of Western NC, is a unique and artsy city, that is within a short distance of some of the most beautiful and scenic hiking trails and waterfalls in Western NC. READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes for NC Day Trips 2 Bedroom Cabin Rentals in Asheville. See our guide to road biking adventures. You can find the Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 364.4-367.6. At 1.1 miles, cross the Blue Ridge Parkway and look for an MST post showing you the way. One of the many tunnels that you will encounter as you travel south on the Parkway. There are more than 100 Blue Ridge Parkway hikes in North Carolina's 252 mile stretch of that wonderful scenic road.Some of the prettiest sights, tallest mountains, and most majestic waterfalls are found along the Parkway.. Second, there is an abundance of scenic hikes, waterfalls, and states parks within an easy drive of the city. Looking Glass Falls MP 411. It's one of the undisputedly best, most beautiful waterfall trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. Every hike has something special, with accessibility for all skill levels and a balance between exertion and payoff that falls right in that sweet spot. Feb 17, 2018 - Because the Parkway is so much more than just a beautiful drive. Another Pisgah Forest NC waterfall hike near Asheville, Roaring Fork Falls is a stunner that is hidden a few miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Only a couple of miles from our cabins for rent near Asheville is an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Looking for the best hikes near Asheville? Waterrock Knob (MP 451) Distance from Asheville: 53 minutes (45 miles) Hike Distance: 1.2 miles round trip. The section of the Blue Ridge Parkway close to Craven Gap may be closed due to weather in the winter. This hike is filled with some of the best views of the Asheville area. And it fits the "best for last" billing because this is one terrific spot for hiking. Your hike will begin wooded, then open up into a gorgeous meadow, surrounded by beautiful mountains.